“Summer Mav-”
“Stop already,” I said through gritted teeth; anger seethed through me. “I hate what you’ve done—not only to me, but to all the others.”
“I’m trying to protect you.”
“From who? Darce?” I scanned the ballroom. “Morpheus? The Underworld? There’s nothing to protect me from!”
She looked desperate; as though she couldn’t give up. She wouldn’t. She most certainly wouldn’t listen to me. It was clear there wouldn’t be any sort of reasoning with her. To my mother, Darce and the Underworld would always be a threat—not to me or my happiness, but to her own.
“You just don’t understand right now,” she began. “That’s alright. It’ll make sense soon. Once you get away—”
“I’m not leaving…” My words drifted to silence as I glared at her. “You’re not going to take me away from him or them again. My home is not with you anymore.”
“The Underworld can never be the home to a human,” Minthe interjected with a scoff. “And I’ll never give him to you.”
I shot Minthe a dark look. I gritted my teeth as I tried to find my words.
“He’s not yours to give,” I shot back. Minthe growled with a strange, but amused laughter as I eased a step towards Darce. The sound sent a shiver down my spine.
“You’re a mortal, bound to die. There’s no place for you here nor in the Underworld. Your mother was doing you a favor, giving you the measly life you deserved.”
“You’re no better than me. You’re just a nymph. You’ll never be anything more.”
My words seemed to strike a chord. Minthe reached for my arm and yanked me away from the group; I winched at the pain of her nails digging into my skin. Quickly, I darted my gaze back to my mom—to Darce. He started towards me and Minthe, intending to follow, but my mom pressed her hand against his chest; stopping him. A small, strange smile grew on her lips.
My heart began to pound in my chest with panic. Where was Minthe taking me? Why was no one helping me? A shiver crept down my spine. Minthe tugged me past Eros and Dionysus, who were swirling wine in their crystal glasses. I resisted the urge to call out to them. There would be no stopping Minthe on her rampage. She only paused as she came to a small room, tucked away from the large crowd. She nearly shoved me into the end of a long, oak table. I braced myself with a grunt and turned to look at her with rage.
“Say another word, and I’ll do far worse,” she sneered, grabbing two goblets filled with wine; one of them for me.
“Summer…” She said my name as if the mere sound of it disgusted her. “You can’t really see yourself here forever, can you?”
I wanted to be here forever. Now that I knew about Darce. . .I knew about the truth of this world, I never wanted to be torn from it again. I wanted the forever Darce was so willing to give me.
“You’re just mortal,” she added. “You’ll never be more than that.”
“As you keep reminding me,” I jabbed, but she ignored me.
“Your life is like a flame of a candle. Strong and warm, and then suddenly,” she snapped her fingers. “With a single breath, the light goes out. You’ll leave Darce in the darkness again. Is that what you truly wish for him?”
“It’s better than leaving him with you,” I hissed.
“Of course not,” she said with a laugh. “None of us wish for his Lord to suffer. It seems as long as you’re in his life. . .as long as you’re still a possibility, he will never let you go.”
“You’re right. He won’t let me go,” I retorted.
“Which is why I’ve made the decision for him,” she said with a smile. I waited silently for her to continue. Minthe slid her gaze to the goblet in front of me. “There’s no need to make this harder than it needs to be…” I stared at her silently. The small smile on her lips grew as she pushed the goblet closer. “Come. Drink with me.”
I stared at her incredulously. Was she crazy? Did she really think I’d take the goblet and actually drink? I’d seen enough Game of Thrones to know when someone was trying to poison another, and I had no intention of becoming another Joffrey.
“I’m not touching that.”
She raised a brow, studying me for only a moment before she inched closer towards me.
“Either one or both of you will drink from this goblet tonight, Summer. You have the choice to protect him or. . .” She allowed her words to drift to silence.
“Protect?” The word escaped my lips as I glanced down at the offered cup. Was it their plan to harm him too? Perhaps they would do worse than the boat—the swirling whirlpool of water, pulling him away from me.
“If they could remove a Goddess’ powers once before,” she murmured. “What makes you think they cannot do the same to him?”
A ball of fury tightened inside of my chest and I shook my head.
“They wouldn’t.”
“Not if you take the choice away from them,” she hissed. “Do you think I would have come here for nothing? To come and see him lay his life on the line for your fleshly one? Again?”
As I looked into her eyes, I could see the lingering desperation behind her violet gaze. She was trying to save him. She was trying to do something right. At the cost of my own life.
“You must let him go. Just the way he was willing to let you go once.”
Just as Zeus had said mere moments ago. Darce had promised to help my mother remove my memories forever. Despite his own heartache. . .despite the pain and longing he felt for us, he had been prepared to walk away. All for my own happiness; for my chance at living a normal life.
I felt my stomach twist.
“So drink,” she commanded.
“And what happens when I drink…” I asked, almost afraid of the answer. I stared down into the dark, oily liquid, feeling my stomach suddenly begin to churn. She didn’t have to respond. I already knew. Death was waiting for me. Just as it had always been waiting for my other lives. The image of my life string, being pulled among the three Fates - the long shears rising from the darkness, ending me with a single snip.
“Isn’t it enough to know Darce will be safe?” Minthe asked.
It was enough. Despite the twisting of my heart, it was enough to know that my actions would protect him. I knew he would have done the same for me. As I gazed down at the goblet, I caught sight of the small ring around my finger. The ring Persephone had given to Arae for safekeeping. It had always represented a promise, whether from Darce to Persephone, or to Arae in Persephone’s return. It was a piece of herself she had left for them—for me. I brushed my thumb over it carefully. Now, I needed to be brave, just like her.
“Do it!” She hissed, glancing over my shoulder. I turned slightly, glancing over my shoulder to see Darce running in our direction. A strand of his hair had fallen over his eye; his jaw was clenched, and his eyes were wild with fire.
“Summer!” He yelled; the sound of my name rang in my ears.
I’m sorry. I’m so sorry…
The words echoed as I lifted the goblet to my lips and took a large gulp of the oily liquid.
It only took a moment for my throat to suddenly begin to tighten. The liquid I’d just swallowed went from tingling to burning in less than a second. It trailed like wildfire as it traveled through my body. I dropped the goblet to the floor; the loud clattering of it echoed all around me.
This was my last life. And I had given it up to keep the one I loved safe. I hadn’t been able to protect my dad, but I would. . .I would for Darce.
The entire room began to spin, and I couldn’t keep my balance. A pair of hands grabbed me from behind, and as I turned to see, I was met by Eros’ face. His eyes were wide with concern.
“What did you do, Minthe?” His voice sounded muffled and so far away.
“D—Darce...” I tried to shout. I watched as Morpheus appeared, pushing Eros out of the way. He held me as my knees gave out and I sank to the ground.
“Morphe—” I rasped his name.
“Shhh
,” he whispered. “You’re going to be alright.”
Pain began to envelop me as I struggled to breathe. I tried to focus my gaze on Morpheus’ jaw and his eyes. I saw him look up, and I followed his gaze until I saw Darce.
“Summer…” His voice was as clear as a bell, and it was devastating. Without hesitation, Darce turned and I suddenly heard Minthe’s scream pierce the air. A crowd of Gods and Goddesses began to swarm around me and Morpheus. Darce returned in an instant, dragging Minthe with him.
“You poisoned her?” His roar was loud, and I watched as he yanked on her hair, while his other hand held her arm against her back.
“You’ll thank me later,” she hissed.
“I’ll kill you with my bare hands later,” he snarled. “Why?”
“Don’t think they won’t do to you, what had been done to your Spring Bride,” she hissed. So that was it, everything was coming full circle. It had started with Persephone and it ended now with me.
I’m so sorry, Darce. I thought and then I closed my eyes.
Chapter 24
When I was younger, maybe six or seven, I smacked my head falling off of a swing in the park. I had been trying to go as high as a bird; I had insisted to the kid beside me that I could fly. It felt so freeing, to lift my legs up into the air, and for a moment, when I closed my eyes—I was. Until I realized I was actually falling, and landed smack on the back of my head. My mom, in a flurry of romance novels and our packed picnic raced to my side and rushed me to the hospital.
My dad apparently came to the hospital with my favorite doll—Christy—as a source of strength and comfort. I remember at first, there was very little pain, except for a nagging throb at the base of my skull. I went in and out of consciousness, tired and awake all at once. The doctor and nurses urged my parents to keep me awake, and the longer I drifted in and out, the less I recognized their faces.
It was like being underwater and looking up from the bottom of a pool.
Their faces blurred and swayed with the ripple of the water. I tried to listen to them, and fight through it. I couldn’t stop the fear of never seeing them again; of forgetting who they were. I had known my mind was lying to me, and that the people I saw were the faces I had known all my life. My mother, my father….
But now, as I looked around me at the faces of the Gods and Goddesses garbed in fine gowns and suits, I couldn’t help but slip into that murky pool again.
If only, I thought wearily, this was just another concussion.
I knew it wasn’t. The taste in my mouth was different; ancient and unknown.
It was…forgetful.
I could hear voices rising with anger, but I couldn’t understand anything that was being said. Everything was too loud, too close. The man before me—Darce—still held onto Minthe. Tears spooled around her cheeks as a strange smile lingered on her lips. I couldn’t make out if she was happy. . .or angry. He kept her head tilted back as he stared at her angrily. I recognized the face who appeared at my side; my mother. I felt her hands first, felt her brush my hair from my face.
“Summer. My poor, lovely. . .Summer…”
“Get your hands off of her,” another voice growled as a pair of wings wrapped around me. I lifted my gaze, watching as the face belonging to a man with long, silver hair loomed over me. Morpheus.
The sudden movement sent a wave of dizziness through me again and I closed my eyes. The burning inside of my stomach was excruciating. A cry slipped past my lips as I held out my hand. I just wanted it to be over. I just wanted release. I wanted to be free. I imagined my legs as a child, swinging as high as I could on the playground—wanting to reach the sky. I knew I could fly. I pushed with all of my might—pushed with everything that I could. I imagined myself letting go.
I was falling, but there wouldn’t be pain this time. Instead, there was nothing but silence. I knew this silence. I recognized it from the Underworld. It even had a strange, familiar scent—like wildflowers and water.
As I pushed myself up from the darkness, I gazed around, taking in the strange surroundings. The grand ballroom of Mount Olympus was gone, replaced by a cave; the walls aglow with a hue of light blue and white. In the light, on the ground, three long shadows were cast before me. A few feet further in, I could see three beautiful women draped in long black, cloaks.
One woman held a pair of golden shears, the other, a large spool of thread. The last woman, who gazed at me with sad, silver eyes, held up a long golden strand of thread. I knew what it was—what it symbolized. My life.
“Summer Mavros,” the woman carrying the spool of thread murmured. As I turned my attention to her, I realized she had kind, familiar eyes—almost nearly the shade of pine green. “You’ve been brought to us at the end of your mortal life.”
The end? I swallowed a lump in my throat. There was no going back. Minthe had succeeded in getting rid of me. I had succeeded in protecting Darce with my own life.
“Yes,” I murmured with a nod.
“Daughter of Demeter and Zeus-”
“Actually,” I lifted my hand. “William Mavros was my dad.” I bit my inner cheek, wondering if it was an alright thing to say. Even in the end, it mattered. He mattered. I wouldn’t allow him to become a nameless, faceless stranger to time.
The woman carrying the large shears smiled and nodded slowly.
“Of course.”
I gazed around the room once again. I could hear the ripple of water nearby. I wondered where exactly we were; where exactly in the Underworld. Was I close to his palace of halls? Was I near the large stone, staircase, leading to my own world? I was so close to home—to him—but still so far away.
“Your life once began here, and so shall it cease by the cutting of your life.”
The golden thread in the woman’s hands seemed no longer than a mere few inches. I wondered if my past lives had experienced the same moment; realizing how little life they had actually lived. Was it so short because I was so young? Winnie had been young, too. How had they felt, knowing it was the end? I knew better not to ask the questions aloud. The answers didn’t seem to matter now anyway.
“Y—yes,” I said again, nodding slowly. Would Darce come for me? Would he come to say. . .goodbye? I turned to glance over my shoulder, hoping perhaps I’d see him appear behind me. I wanted to see his face—at least one last time before. . .
I heard the swish of the shears before I turned my attention back to the three women before me; the Fates. The women who held the lives of all the people in the world and ended them with a mere clip.
The silver eyed woman held my thread strong and taunt, while the other came forward—all the while keeping their gazes on me.
“Go in peace, Summer Mavros. For you have served your Lord well.”
Suddenly it became harder to breathe. I was sinking, once again, just like before. Sinking into a deep pool of darkness. I felt the string snap before I saw it; the shears sliced through the golden strand without effort.
“Come,” The green-eyed woman said with a welcoming smile as she extended her hand out to me. “Come and rest. You’ve walked many miles.”
I never really believed the stories of those who had said they’d seen their life flash before their eyes. I always thought it was a strange metaphor for suddenly becoming aware of what was important; what should have always been important.
Slowly, images began to creep from my distant memory; pieces of my life back at home. Back with my friends in school. The times I had shared pizza with my Dad while watching the History channel. The times I’d watched my mother read, tucking her hair behind her ear. Images of classrooms and paper hearts. Nights in the art studio back in college; painting the many faces I’d later come to know.
The first time I saw Darce; his wicked eyes. The tender press of his lips. Morpheus; the sound of his laughter. I had done this for them. I’d done this to protect Darce. . .to save him.
I slowly reached for the woman’s hand, pushing away the last memory of Darce from m
y mind. Maybe it was time to rest. Maybe it was time to finally let go.
“Summer?”
Darce’s voice broke through the moment, interrupting the exchange. I paused, mid-step. Was Darce truly here? Was I dreaming this? The three women’s eyes darted in the direction of where his voice had come from, and I knew. . .
I turned quickly, locking eyes with not the familiar face I’d come to know, but instead the true form of the God of the Underworld. A dark mist crawled up the length of his arms, exposing thin lines, sparking with twinges of red fire. The designs on his arms matched the fine lines drawn over his face and features. His gaze now, golden and wide.
“You came…”
“Why?” He asked. His question lingered in the air between the two of us. Why had I allowed Minthe to poison me. Why had I given up so easily?
“You would have done the same for me,” I said with a small smile.
He took a step closer to me, extending his hand.
“You gave your life for me.” He spoke it like a question, as if my sacrifice for him was unfathomable.
“Yes,” I replied breathlessly. My body felt strangely tired; the invitation to rest was becoming more and more enticing to me.
“You. . .died.”
I had died. I had died on the floor, wrapped in Morpheus’ wings. I had died without muttering a single goodbye. My heart felt so heavy with guilt and sadness. And Darce. . .
“It felt like the right thing to do,” I confessed with a nod.
He shifted his golden gaze to the three women before us; with a snap of his fingers, he pointed to the broken thread laying on the floor.
“Bring me the thread,” he commanded carefully. The silver-eyed woman shook her head with a small, sad smile lingering on her lips.
“I’m sorry, my Lord. But I must carry out the will of this girl’s life.”
“Bring me the thread,” he repeated again. “I am carrying out the will of her life.”
“There are things not even a God can prevent. You are the protector of the dead. Nothing more.”
He snapped his fingers again with a deep, rumbling growl. As if a burst of wind had blasted her from behind, she flew forward toward Darce with the two single strands of my thread caught by the tips of her sandals. She stopped short of toppling into him and gasped as her feet returned to solid ground. He had done something similar to me back at the hospital after my parent’s car accident, but it was a different thing to see entirely.
Gilded Ruins Page 23
